Aberdeen University has opened a call for applications for the PhD studentship that will explore the influence of marine renewable energy developments on the behavior of animals at high tidal flow sites.
The project brings together a team of ecologists, engineers, industry and government advisors as supervisors, providing an opportunity for a student keen to explore environmental impact research topics while participating in real-world issues faced by the marine renewables industry.
The research topic covered in this project will focus on understanding how important mobile species such as fish, seabirds and marine mammals use highly energetic site.
On offer to the student is a wide range of unique data layers, both physical and ecological, that allow the exploration of how the physical environment modifies the tidal flow to generate tidal features, noise and sediment dynamics and how this potentially influences fish, seabirds and marine mammals, according to the University of Aberdeen.
The detailed understanding from this PhD will be used to inform techniques for monitoring at three scales of marine renewable developments, including device, array, and region.
The research is expected to provide advice towards the ecologically sustainable development of marine renewable energy and, potentially, to inform regulations internationally at renewable development sites situated worldwide.
The PhD student would be based in Scotland, and during the course of studies, would have the opportunity to study at the University of Aberdeen, University of the Highlands and Islands (SAMS-UHI) and have a placement at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
The deadline for applications to the PhD studentship is set for June 16, 2017.